Fforest Fach
Encyclopedia
Fforest Fach is a small area of unenclosed land within Brecon Beacons National Park southwest of Sennybridge
in the county of Powys
, Wales
. Translating from Welsh
as 'little forest', it is named in opposition to the much larger area of unenclosed land to the south which is known as Fforest Fawr
or the 'great forest'. Whilst Fforest Fawr and Fforest Fach have been distinct areas for many centuries, the odd situation now arises where Fforest Fach now finds itself within Fforest Fawr Geopark
, the boundaries of which are drawn rather more widely than those of the traditional royal hunting forest.
The hill possesses two indistinct summits, the higher of which at 382m is in the south whilst that to the north at 381m is crowned by a trig point
. There was formerly a rifle range at the north-western corner of the hill.
laid down during the Devonian period. Some of the sandstone beds on the north-eastern spur of the hill have been quarried in the past for building stone or possibly for use as roof tiles. The now disused Pantymaes Quarry is a major working of the sandstone on the eastern side of the hill which is readily seen from the road.
A legacy of the glaciation of this area during the last ice age is the presence of glacial till around the flanks of the hill. The sides of Cwm Clydach which cuts into the eastern side of the hill show evidence of landslips having occurred, probably in early post-glacial times.
Sennybridge
Sennybridge is a village in Powys, Mid Wales, situated some from Cardiff and from Swansea. It lies west of Brecon on the A40 trunk road to Llandovery, at the point where the River Senni flows into the Usk...
in the county of Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Translating from Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
as 'little forest', it is named in opposition to the much larger area of unenclosed land to the south which is known as Fforest Fawr
Fforest Fawr
Fforest Fawr is the name given to an extensive upland area in the county of Powys, Wales. Formerly known as the 'Great Forest of Brecknock' in English, it was a royal hunting area for several centuries but is now used primarily for sheep grazing, forestry, water catchment and recreation...
or the 'great forest'. Whilst Fforest Fawr and Fforest Fach have been distinct areas for many centuries, the odd situation now arises where Fforest Fach now finds itself within Fforest Fawr Geopark
Fforest Fawr Geopark
Fforest Fawr Geopark was the first Geopark to be designated in Wales having gained membership of both the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO-assisted Global Network of National Geoparks in October 2005. The Geopark aims to promote and support sustainable tourism and other opportunities to...
, the boundaries of which are drawn rather more widely than those of the traditional royal hunting forest.
The hill possesses two indistinct summits, the higher of which at 382m is in the south whilst that to the north at 381m is crowned by a trig point
Triangulation station
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
. There was formerly a rifle range at the north-western corner of the hill.
Geology
Fforest Fach is formed from sandstones and mudstones of the St. Maughans Formation of the Old Red SandstoneOld Red Sandstone
The Old Red Sandstone is a British rock formation of considerable importance to early paleontology. For convenience the short version of the term, 'ORS' is often used in literature on the subject.-Sedimentology:...
laid down during the Devonian period. Some of the sandstone beds on the north-eastern spur of the hill have been quarried in the past for building stone or possibly for use as roof tiles. The now disused Pantymaes Quarry is a major working of the sandstone on the eastern side of the hill which is readily seen from the road.
A legacy of the glaciation of this area during the last ice age is the presence of glacial till around the flanks of the hill. The sides of Cwm Clydach which cuts into the eastern side of the hill show evidence of landslips having occurred, probably in early post-glacial times.